Machine Learning Combined with PET/CT Can Predict Heart Attack Risk

By combining information from two advanced imaging techniques with clinical data, physicians can improve their prediction of heart attacks, according to new research.

When assessed together in an artificial intelligence model, coronary 18F-NaF uptake on PET and quantitative coronary plaque characteristics on CT angiography were found by researchers at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles, CA, USA) to be complementary, strong predictors of heart attack risk in patients with established coronary artery disease, providing risk prediction superior to that of clinical data alone.

In everyday clinical practice, predicting a heart attack is challenging. The predicted likelihood of a heart attack typically is based on cardiovascular risk factors and scores, especially in patients with suspected coronary artery disease. However, in patients with confirmed coronary artery disease, cardiovascular risk factors and scores don’t always show the full picture.

In the new study, nearly 300 patients with established coronary atherosclerosis underwent a baseline clinical assessment with evaluation of their cardiovascular risk factor profile. All patients received hybrid coronary 18F-NaF PET and contrast CT coronary angiography. Machine learning - a type of artificial intelligence - was used to calculate a joint score for heart attack risk by incorporating key variables from the clinical assessment, 18F-NaF PET findings and quantitative CT variables.

The machine learning model showed substantial improvement in prediction of heart attack over clinical data alone. This approach demonstrated that 18F-NaF PET and CT angiography are complementary and additive, with the combination of both providing the most robust outcome prediction.

“Recently, advanced imaging techniques have demonstrated considerable promise in determining which coronary artery disease patients are most at risk for a heart attack. These techniques include 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) PET, which assesses disease activity in the coronary arteries, and CT angiography, which provides a quantitative plaque analysis,” said Piotr J. Slomka, PhD, FACC, FASNC, FCCPM, director of Innovation in Imaging at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. “Our goal in the study was to investigate whether the information provided by 18F-NaF PET and CT angiography is complementary and could improve prediction of heart attacks with the use of artificial intelligence techniques.”

“18F-NaF PET combined with anatomical imaging provided by CT angiography has the potential to enable precision medicine by guiding the use of advanced therapeutic interventions,” noted Slomka. “Our study supports the use of artificial intelligence methods for integrating multimodality imaging and clinical data for robust prediction of heart attacks.”

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